The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-07-20
MASS MEETING.

The mass meeting called for ~
O'Clock yesterday, in yard up to-
wards the top of Fort street, was
attended by about 200 natives and
Chinese. The meeting was called
to order by Mr.. Kanui, who stated,
that the people were called at this
time TO discuss the new Constitution,
and that he hoped that there would
be no disturbance and no remarks
that would in any way incite the
people to riot.
lie then introduced Mr.. Mahoe
who offered prayer and asked for
guidance from God in their delibe-
rations.
Mr.. X. Katura, japanese law
yer, was then called, who explained
the meaning Of the word Constitu-
ton, and tried to point out the de-
fects of the new document, mas
much as it disfranchised his coun-
trymen, who came here under treaty
between the Hawaiian Government
and his respective country, by
which treaty they we're assured all
the privileges of the most favored
nations. lie also said that the new
Constitution was only contract be-
tween the King and the people, and
that one of the fundamental princi-
pals of law was, that no contract
could be entered into between one
party and another who was not the
authorised agent of the party, and
as the King entered into contract
with few people without the adj
vice or consent of the majority, that
said contract was null and void, and
quoted as an authority an eminent
jurist from Michigan. He for one
did not blame His Majesty for the
mistake he has made, but those that
were behind him. He concluded
his remarks by comparing the new
Constitution with heavy Russian
winter suit of clothes, worn in the
country. 1t might be very comfort
able in Russia but rather the re-
verse here.
Mr.. j. M. Poepoe was then called,
and he confined himself to pointing
out the difference between the new
and old Constitutions, and stated
that in the new one His Majesty had
surrendered his right as sn indepen-
dent sovereign, and that the people
we're now the rulers. He said the new
Constitution was very similar to the
Constitution of the United States,
where they had no nobility and
every man was as good as his neigh
Dor. Now, in Hawaii, we have had
chiefs from time immemorial, and it
is our duty to support them. In the
old Constitution the King was the
owner of the country, or as it reads
'the country is his" In the new,
that phrase has been omitted. He
also said that the new Constitution
says that the people shall rule, in
the old, that the King shall rule the
people. BY the new Constitution
any foreigners not an Asiatic can,
upon residing here 8 years and pos
sessing the necessary property qua
lifications, become voter, but the
Asiatics are considered as animals
and not allowed such privileges, al
though they contribute about $780,
900 year towards the support of
the country. He concluded his re-
marks by reading petition drawn
up by himself and colleagues, where
by they ask the King to remove the
Objectionable features ofthe newCon-
stitution, and asked that 1t be sign
ed and presented to His Majesty,
not with bayonet and sword as
similar document was presented,
but by o deputation of respectable
Hawaiians, and if His Majesty did
not accede to their demands, then
they must all work together to elect
representatives that would not rati-
fly the new Constitution unless such
amendments were made.